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SDL 2 is the magnificent bit of cross-platform development open source tech that gives developers access to audio, keyboard, mouse, joystick, and graphics hardware. Not something normal users will touch, as it's part of the magic behind the scenes to get everything doing what it does on Linux and multiple other platforms.

This is used across many games and game engines including Steam, lots of Valve games like Portal and Half-Life, tons of indie games like Dead Cells, Baba is You, Bastion, Amnesia, FTL and the list goes on.

With the SDL 2.0.14 release out now it adds in support for the new PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers, there's a bunch of new functions just for game controllers for developers to be able to get additional information like if it has an LED or a particular sensor and more. There's also a whole new API for developers to create virtual joysticks.

Various other fixes, improvements and new API features too. Here's what's specific to Linux in SDL 2.0.14:

  • Added the hint SDL_HINT_AUDIO_DEVICE_APP_NAME to specify the name that shows up in PulseAudio for your application
  • Added the hint SDL_HINT_AUDIO_DEVICE_STREAM_NAME to specify the name that shows up in PulseAudio associated with your audio stream
  • Added the hint SDL_HINT_LINUX_JOYSTICK_DEADZONES to control whether HID defined dead zones should be respected on Linux
  • Added the hint SDL_HINT_THREAD_PRIORITY_POLICY to specify the thread scheduler policy
  • Added the hint SDL_HINT_THREAD_FORCE_REALTIME_TIME_CRITICAL to allow time critical threads to use a realtime scheduling policy

See the full list of changes here. More info on SDL on the official site.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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4 comments

M@GOid Dec 22, 2020
Generally you know when something is not using SDL, when there are problems with controls or resolution/full screen stuff.
Bumadar Dec 22, 2020
The ... for lack of a better word ... diffrent resistance on the R2 and L2 of the ps5 controller is amazing, been ages something actually new came to controllers. Now waiting for games to start using it except the demo game 😀

Not clear that is supported yet here


Last edited by Bumadar on 22 December 2020 at 4:15 pm UTC
M@GOid Dec 22, 2020
Quoting: BumadarThe ... for lack of a better word ... diffrent resistance on the R2 and L2 of the ps5 controller is amazing, been ages something actually new came to controllers. Now waiting for games to start using it except the demo game 😀

Not clear that is supported yet here

I saw a disassembly of that mechanism. It didn't look strong at all. Hopefully it is reliable enough for people that didn't have a history of destroying gamepads, under normal use.
Bumadar Dec 23, 2020
Yes, know what you mean, seen that too, but its feels fine tbh, guess its plastic vs plastic and not metal so wear and tear is less. But time will tell.
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